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Paying the Rent

Paying the Rent. Designing State and Local Housing Subsidy Programs NAEH Conference February 8, 2007 Michelle Flynn The Road Home, Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah Overview. Population 2.5 million Highly Urban/ Highly Rural (1.9 million along Wasatch Front)

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Paying the Rent

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  1. Paying the Rent Designing State and Local Housing Subsidy Programs NAEH Conference February 8, 2007 Michelle Flynn The Road Home, Salt Lake City, Utah

  2. Utah Overview • Population 2.5 million • Highly Urban/ Highly Rural (1.9 million along Wasatch Front) • Conservative voters/legislators (R-76; D-28) • Fair Market Rent for a 2 Bedroom is $714; a renter would need to make $14.73/hour; minimum wage is $5.15 • 2006 SL County average rent is $774, up $133 from 2005; vacancy rate is 5% • Homeless Count – 3,250 PIT;15,000 annual .6% of total population • 86 % or 2,816 of those are along the Wasatch Front Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  3. Overview of The Road Home • 5,799 clients served: • Emergency Shelter (500 / 850 per night) • Emergency Assistance • Housing (250 households daily) Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  4. TRH Housing ProgramHousing screening and matching • Transitional Housing - Approx. 26 • Temporary Subsidies (TBRA, private, master leasing) - Approx. 90 • Deposit only - Approx. 50/year • Permanent Supportive Housing (Frontier Apts. Shelter Plus Care, etc.) - Approx. 50 • Other community programs (LifeStart, KRH, etc.) • Moving households directly to the most permanent option available. Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  5. Temporary Subsidy Programs in Salt Lake County 1. Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (HOME) 2001-07 • $475,000 annually for rental assistance and deposit • SL County, SL City, West Valley City HOME funds; 90 vouchers • Service Partner: The Road Home (TRH) • Administrative partners: SL County HA, West Valley City HA • Rental assistance (up to 24 months) for homeless individuals or families referred by TRH Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  6. Temporary Subsidy Programs in Salt Lake County p. 2 2. HARP (Homeless Assistance Rental Program) - 2006 • $550,000 in 2007 ($300,000 HOME funds and $250,000 SL County General Funds) • Includes master leasing and tenant leasing • 75 to 80 vouchers • Rental assistance (up to 24 months) for homeless individuals or families • Limited to referrals by SL County agencies – Criminal Justice, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Youth Services • Case managed by referring agency • More than 50% of referrals must have County Jail involvement Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  7. Temporary Subsidy Programs in Salt Lake County p. 3 3. New Jan. 2007 - State TBRA from Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund • $260,000 • 40 vouchers split between City and County HA • Targeted populations: chronically homeless individuals or families; single, female HOH receiving drug & alcohol treatment; youth aging out of foster care; individuals leaving jail or prison; general homeless • Case management by referring provider • New Jan. 2007 State TBRA - Homeless Trust Fund • $40,000 for 5 to 10 vouchers • Mentally ill homeless Individuals discharging directly from County Jail • Supportive Services by Valley Mental Health Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  8. Temporary Subsidy Programs in Salt Lake County p. 4 • Pathways Master Leasing • $75,000. 15 Master Leased Units. • Housing 1st for 17 Chronically Homeless Individuals. • Supportive services by TRH, Valley Mental Health, Volunteers of America, Fourth Street Clinic • Pilot project for 10 year plan. Hoping to expand next year. • All are still housed; senior housing, Shelter Plus Care, permanent supportive housing Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  9. Process for Getting the Funding • Why did we want this program? We saw families staying in the shelter with primary barrier: lack of resources for deposit/rent • How did we get it started in 2001? • Bringing key funders to the shelter and discuss how housing is less expensive and makes more sense • Appeal to conservative base by focusing on helping families and children in need Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  10. TRH Rental Subsidy Programs Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  11. Program Design:Who gets in to the program? • Assisting the client every step along with way. Review and screen participants. Help match client with units, follow up with landlords. If they won’t be S8 eligible they might not qualify for this program. • Barred households include: Lifetime sex offenses in the household, some criminal charges, significant money owed to Housing Authority. • Client must agree to case management • Approx. 56% families; 44% individuals Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  12. Program Design:Program Administration • The Road Home splits the Admin fee with the Housing Authority • TRH helps client fill out application, checks it and turns it in to the HA • TRH fronts the deposit and pro-rate for first month’s rent, sends monthly bill to HA • HA activates new tenant on TBRA and begins rent payment in 1st full month • Monthly meetings to reconcile • Challenge of over/under leasing Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  13. Partners Landlords!! Landlords!! Landlords!! • Without Landlords all deals are off • Case managers check in with landlords one time each month to follow up on rents, neighbor issues, etc. • Sometimes negotiate deposits, rents, ending leases early • Help tenants learn to work with landlords • Taking Care of Housing First! Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  14. Partners p. 2 • Working with Housing Authorities, funders and other administrative/service partners. • Working with clients/tenants. Understanding program is temporary and case plans are required. Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  15. Results • TBRA Works! • Taking care of HOUSING FIRST! • Priority is helping tenant adhere to terms of the lease. CM checks to see if rent is paid on time, utilities paid, apartment is kept clean, neighbor issues • Secondary is other service needs: child care, education, increase in income, referrals for counseling, SA and MH, etc. Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  16. Results p. 2 • Uses existing housing stock in the community – appealing to landlords • Limits multiple moves for a family, can stay in same home and transfer to a S8 • Increase capacity to serve families without building a bigger shelter • Decrease length of stay in shelter Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  17. TBRA Works! Results Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  18. What’s working/not working • Lessons learned: Supportive Services are key • We have a Housing LCSW for extreme mental health cases and crises • Strong partnerships with Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Parenting, Domestic Violence • Weekly supervision for all case managers • Monthly check in with landlords • Intensive services after move-in • Must take care of Housing First! Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  19. What to think about when designing your own program? • How to get the money? • Working with Housing Authorities and Partners? Existing relationships. • Specifics of the program: client profile, end goal for client, capacity for administration and case management • Showing results, outcomes, tracking information, goals for the future • Remember to Take Care of Housing First! Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  20. Goals: What’s Next • 10 Year Plan to End Family Homelessness • Sec. 8 Voucher (Housing Authority) Preference for “graduates” of TBRA programs. Shorten time of the temporary subsidy and with increased turn-over, serve more families with the funding • Increase community collaborations around chronic families • Growing supportive services dollars along with rental assistance dollars Paying the Rent SLC Utah

  21. Contact Information:Michelle C. FlynnAssociate Executive Director of ProgramsThe Road Home210 South Rio Grande StreetSalt Lake City, Utah 84101(801) 328-8759mflynn@theroadhome.orgwww.theroadhome.orgwww.utahcontinuum.org Paying the Rent SLC Utah

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